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Advertisement Card
Front
Believed to be a standard take home item such as usually found on the counter at major game stores. Back side of
card is blank (solid white).
Unconfirmed but, it was suggested that this item could have been something included packaged with an issue of Official Dreamcast Magazine.
Measurements: 4
Counter Ad
This is the stand up counter top ad many of you may remember seeing in game stores or even Wal-Mart in early 2001.
Measurements: 12" Wide by 15" High by 11/8 " Deep
Essentially a large, rough texture finish, oval shaped, vinyl sticker. Floor ads, such as this one, were once quite common but are rarely used now as they proved to pose as a tripping hazard. Like any sticker, the back of this floor ad has a type of wax paper in place to protect its adhesive backing.
Measurements: 15" Wide by 22 5/8" High
A postcard made by GoCard. It is interesting that you can still go to the GoCard website and send an e-card version of any postcard the company has ever made, including this one. To learn more about GoCards and where they can be found please visit the official GoCard website.
Measurements: 6" Wide by 4 1/4" High
Poster
Front
A poster which would have been displayed in select major game stores to promote the original game release for Dreamcast. Back side
of poster is blank (solid white). As you may note in the picture, somewhat heavy objects had to be sat on the corners of this poster to prevent it from
rolling. This was because the poster itself is not printed on typical poster paper but rather on cardstock, a stiff grade of paper normally used for
business cards. The wording "you are not the only hero" is spelled out using an eye catching reflective metalic foil.
Measurements: 22
It is believed that mailing labels like this one were used on envelopes containing press release information, a launch party invitation, and a Versus Books Collector's Edition Mini Guide. However, this is uncomfirmed.
Measurements: 4 1/4" Wide by 2 1/4" High
What makes the invitation particularly interesting is the usage of the English,
Spanish, French, German, and Japanese languages on the back to say a single message.
Fully Translated it reads:
Welcome to Phantasy Star Online.
Prepare for a experience earth-ground-breaking.
Heroes around the world link in revolution who are not limited by the
terminals of time or the language.
Connect for us in one celebration of this boundary stone moment in
that play history combine in one revolution, those not through those
border that time or that language limited becomes.
A hero, there is no one person.
Measurements: 4 1/4" Wide by 6 1/4" High
It is rumored that the launch party was cancelled. Sega of America (SoA) would not answer any e-mails
concerning this and a Sega of Europe (SoE) representitive stated that they (SoE) had no knowledge of it.
Back side of ticket is blank (solid white).
Measurements: 2
Versus Books Phantasy Star Online Official Exclusive Perfect Guide Collector's Edition, 14 pages. This mini guide has a different Phantasy Star History section than that which is found in the full size strategy guide. Includes the same Forest 1 and 2 coverage as the full size strategy guide, resized to fit on the smaller pages, though lacks information on what can be found in Hard and Very Hard modes.
Measurements: 5 1/2" Wide by 7" High
Versus Books Phantasy Star Online Official Perfect Guide (Versus Books Volume 23), 144 pages plus a pull-out poster. Published 2001. The only Dreamcast version strategy guide available in North America. This comprehensive guide contains a complete walkthrough of the offline modes and quests, including every offline map, as well as virtually anything else you'd possibly want to know. A five page section in the back titled "Phantasy Star Memories" chronicles all the previous Phantasy Star games made and some additional interesting information.
Original retail price: $14.99 in U.S.A. and $19.99 in Canada.
Measurements: 8 1/2" Wide by 107/8" High
Episode I & II: Strategy Guide
Versus Books Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Official Perfect Guide (Versus Books Volume 50), 176 pages plus a pull-out poster. Published 2002. The only Xbox and Game Cube versions strategy guide available in North America and the UK. This is a comprehensive strategy guide with a complete walkthrough of everything offline and virtually all the maps and data you could ever want.
Original retail price: $14.99 in U.S.A., $19.99 in Canada, and £9.99 in the UK.
Measurements: 8 1/2" Wide by 107/8" High
Prima's Official Strategy Guide to Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution, 152 pages. Published 2003. The only Episode 3 strategy guide available in North America and the UK. This is a comprehensive strategy guide with a complete walkthrough of all offline missions and virtually all the data you could ever want.
Original retail price: $14.99 in U.S.A., $21.95 in Canada, and £12.99 in the UK.
Measurements: 8 5/8" Wide by 11" High
The original game in the series, it was the first online console RPG released in North America. Contents of the case: game disc (GD-ROM), a Sonic Adventure 2 demo disc, and a 32 page English language instruction manual. Copies of PSO V1 sold in Canada also included a French language instruction manual.
Release Date: March 2001
Original retail price: $49.99
Online play fee: Free (US servers are closed)
Measurements: 5 5/8" Wide by 4 7/8" High
by 3/8" Deep (standard size CD case)
Phantasy Star Online Version 2 (PSO V2)
An upgrade of the original, Version 2 introduced Challenge Mode, Battle Mode, Lobby Soccer, Ultimate Mode, and other additions. This later became known as Episode 1. Contents of the case: game disc (GD-ROM), "more games" pamphlet, and a 32 page English language instruction manual. Copies of PSO V2 sold in Canada also included a French language instruction manual.
Release Date: November 2001
Original retail price: $49.99
Online play fee: $15 per 3 months (US servers are closed)
Measurements: 5 5/8" Wide by 4 7/8" High
by 3/8" Deep (standard size CD case)
Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II (GC PSO) Display Box
Oversized display box used to promote the imminent release of PSO: Episode I & II for the Nintendo GameCube. This display box was made with fold-out holey tabs at the upper part of the box, which gave retailers the option of hanging it.
Measurements:
- Unassembled: 16 1/4" Wide by 28" High
- Assembled: 12 1/2" Wide by 18 3/16
" High by 37/8" Deep
Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II (GC PSO)
This was the first version of PSO to introduce Episode 2 and to feature offline multi-player. Many changes were implemented to the game play mechanics starting with this version of PSO, most notably the overall difficulty was lowered. Episode 1 & 2 brought three new character classes into the game; HUcaseal, RAmarl, and FOmar. This was also the very first Game Cube game released that could be used with the optional modem and broadband adapter. Contents of the case: game disc (Mini DVD-ROM), 60 page English language instruction manual, Nintendo Game Cube Precautions pamphlet, and a Sega Product Registration form.
Release Date: October 29th, 2002
Original retail price: $49.99
Online play fee: $8.95 per month (fee covers playing all versions of Game Cube PSO)
Measurements: 5 5/16" Wide by 7 1/2" High
by 9/16" Deep (standard size Game Cube game case, same dimensions as a standard DVD case)
Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II (XB PSO) Display Box
Oversized display box used to promote the imminent release of PSO: Episode I & II for the Microsoft Xbox. This display box was made with fold-out holey tabs at the upper part of the box, which gave retailers the option of hanging it.
Measurements:
- Unassembled: 16 1/4" Wide by 28" High
- Assembled: 12 1/2" Wide by 18 3/16
" High by 37/8" Deep
Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II (XB PSO)
The only version of PSO that supports voice chat. The only console version of PSO that does not come with a full instruction manual. And, the only console version that requires you to have an Xbox Live (XBL) Gamertag to even play it offline. Contents of the case: game disc (DVD-ROM), a 10 page summarized English language instruction manual, official USB Keytboard Adapter offer card, Xbox Live pamphlet, and a 6 page Xbox games pamphlet. The full version of the English instruction manual is 62 pages and is only available as an Adobe Acrobat ".pdf" file from the Xbox Website.
Update (6-06-2006): The full version of the instruction manual is no longer available from the Xbox website. It was evidently removed when the site was redesigned for the Xbox 360 system launch.
Update (10-14-2007): You may now download the full version instruction manual from here: Download Manual.
Release Date: April 1st, 2003
Original retail price: $39.99
Online play fee: $8.95 per month
Measurements: 5 5/16" Wide by 7 1/2" High
by 9/16" Deep (standard size DVD case)
Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II USB Keyboard Adapter
This adapter was only available through 12/31/2004, and had to be ordered directly from the
Xbox Website. The following is quoted
directly off of the Official USB Keyboard Adapter offer card that was included with the Xbox
version of Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2.
Original retail price: "free" + $6.95 shipping and handling
"The Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 USB Keyboard Adapter
for Xbox allows you to connect a USB-enabled keyboard to an Xbox Controller. It is for use
exclusively with Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 on the Xbox video game system from Microsoft."
Measurements: 1
Phantasy Star Online: Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution
This episode took a drastic departure from the rest of the game series, it is a mission-driven strategy card game. One nice feature is that you can use your Game Cube Episode 1 & 2 or Episode 1 & 2 Plus character to play in Episode 3. Like the other Game Cube PSO titles, Episode 3 also has offline multi-player and can be played online using the optional modem and broadband adapter. Contents of the case: game disc (Mini DVD-ROM), 48 page English language instruction manual, Nintendo Game Cube Precautions pamphlet, and a Sega Product Registration form.
Release Date: March 2nd, 2004
Original retail price: $49.99
Online play fee: $8.95 per month (fee covers playing all versions of Game Cube PSO)
Measurements: 5 5/16" Wide by 7 1/2" High
by 9/16" Deep (standard size Game Cube game case, same dimensions as a standard DVD case)
Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst (PSO: BB)
Pictured here is the demo disc included with Computer Gaming World issue #252, dated June 2005. This is the only way known of by which a physical copy of Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst has ever officially been distributed in North America. Contents of the sleeve: game and demo disc (DVD-ROM).
In a drastic move by Sega to prevent cheating and hacking, this version of PSO lacks any offline play. In addition, all game saves are stored server side. Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst initially consisted of Episode 1&2 but has been expanded with Episode 4. Other changes to this version from prior versions include but are not limited to; altered Section ID assignment, Team System, new items and quests.
Release Date: late April, 2005 (Most magazines, including this one, are released earlier than the cover date.)
Open Beta Testing: Started on May 10th, 2005, and ended on June 9th, 2005. Play during the Beta was free.
Official Release Date: June 13th, 2005
Original retail price: $8.99 for the magazine. PSO: BB is a free download from the official website.
Online play fee: $8.99 per month (first two weeks free)
Measurements: 6 5/16" Wide by 8 1/4" High
by just less than 1/8" Deep
Flamboyant, an art book by Japanese artist and illustrator Ugetsu Hakua. Consists, according to the publisher, of 95 pages (132 if you count blank pages), two fold-out posters, and a loose UPC backing leaf. This U.S.A. release was published by Digital Manga Publishing and can still be purchased through their official website. While not exclusively devoted to it, four pages of original PSO artwork are included. Due to some of the other artwork in this book containing nudity and/or suggestive imagery children should not be allowed access to a copy.
Ugetsu Hakua is the talent behind the art and character designs of anime series Burst Angel, for which more than half the artwork in this book is of. He is also author and illustrator of two PSO themed doujinshi (unofficial fan made) mangas, that were released in Japan, titled "Peachy Sugars' Online" and "Peachy Sugars' Online Ver. 2".
Release Date: October 21st, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-56970-801-9
Original retail price: $24.95 in U.S.A.
Measurements: 8 1/4" Wide by 111/4" High
More to Come!
All measurements given are either precise or have been rounded down to the nearest sixteenth of an inch.
Website and its contents copyright 2004 - 2010 by game player s. Japanese text translation by JVG Fanatic.